Bristol Bears were beaten 43-15 by Gloucester Rugby at Ashton Gate in the final pool stage game of the 2021/22 Premiership Rugby Cup on Wednesday night
The Cherry and Whites progressed into the semi-finals as a result of the victory that saw their maul dominate proceedings with the visitors scoring six tries to Bristol’s two.
Gloucester crossed through wingers Jacob Morris and Alex Morgan, while hooker Henry Walker scored a brace and man of the match Jack Bartlett and flanker Freddie Thomas also touched down. Fly-half George Barton finished with 13 points.
A young Bristol side scored tries through two of their more seasoned campaigners in hooker Bryan Byrne and number eight Mitch Eadie but were second best for most of the night at Ashton Gate.
South West rugby writer John Evely gives a stripped-back set of player ratings from the Premiership Rugby Cup clash.
15. Rich Lane - 6
The full-back failed to have the impact we have seen in recent weeks as Gloucester’s defence was well organised. Fended off too easily by Morris for the visitor’s first try.
14. Toby Fricker - 5
Returning from injury, the winger battled hard and stepped inside repeatedly to keep attacks alive, but found little joy in making breaks
13. Jack Bates - 6
The outside centre’s pace looked like Bristol’s best threat in the backline but once again the Bears failed to score in the backs as they were caught going too lateral rather than forward, looking for the outside edge.
12. Sam Bedlow - 5
It was good to see the centre back from a relatively long injury layoff but he looked rusty. Some signs of his power game and some excellent handling despite the wet conditions.
11. Henry Purdy - 5
The winger failed to make an impact on the game as Gloucester used the touchline as an extra defender well. Caught dithering on the ball in his 22 to get hit hard and lose possession. In need of game time.
10. Jac Lloyd - 6
The teenage fly-half showed a flash of his rumoured attacking brilliance with a wonderful break that saw him split a group of slow-footed forwards and then hand off an attempted tackle. The move ended in a turnover as he got isolated by was a sign of his talents.
Missed a long-range penalty kick after landing his first.
9. Theo Strang - 5
The scrum-half box kicked better than in recent weeks but had a flat pass picked off by Alex Morgan to be run in for a try from 60m out.
1. Ash Challenger - 4
The prop struggled in the scrum and had a couple of moments to forget in the loose.
2. Bryan Byrne - 7
The hooker scored a superb try with a break down the blindside off the back of a maul, running through the attempted tackle of Stephen Varney.
3. George Kloska - 5
The tighthead convert struggled in the scrum and was replaced at halftime. unedifyingly carried like a backpack by fly-half George Barton which is not a good look for a prop.
4. James Dun - 5
The Bears pack struggled to contain the power of their Gloucester rivals, particularly at the maul where Dun got spat out the back, with a host of others, for the first two tries from the visitors’ catch and drive game. Left the hole for Freddie Thomas to burst through for a try.
5. Ed Holmes - 5
Left the field in the first half with an injury.
6. John Hawkins - 6
The skipper was active in defence but struggled to help the Bears slow down the quick ball the Cherry and Whites repeatedly manufactured at the breakdown.
7. Macennzie Duncan - 6
A couple of standout powerful tackles caught the eye.
8. Mitch Eadie - 7
The number eight had another impressive display in the cup as he scored a powerful close-range try to cap an impressive carrying performance. Stood up to be counted as one of the senior players in the side.
Replacements
16. Will Capon - 5
17. Tom Sims - 6
18. Jono Benz-Salomon - 6
19. Charlie Rice - 6
20. Pete Carter - 6
21. TJ Wilstead - 5
22. Harry Rowson - 5
23. Niyi Adeolokun - 5
